Trent Bridge

Notts Secure Surrey Draw

Match Report | 11th July 2013

Ricky Ponting brought the curtain down on his First Class career in the perfect manner as his unbeaten 169 secured a draw against Nottinghamshire. His innings spanned 319 deliveries and he was given valuable support from Zafar Ansari and Jade Dernbach as Surrey declared just before the final hour of play on 395-8.

Surrey began the morning with Ponting and Arun Harinath at the crease but in the first over of the day Harinath was bowled by Harry Gurney for his overnight 69. Zander de Bruyn joined Ponting but a brilliant bit of work by David Hussey saw De Bruyn run out for 1 and Surrey were suddenly 189-4.

Ponting brought up his fifty with a single through the covers and with Steven Davies starting solidly as Surrey moved into the lead. But on 8 Davies was bowled by Andre Adams around his legs and the fifth wicket fell with that lead standing at just six runs.

Ponting needed a partner and found one in Zafar Ansari who got his head down and steadied the innings. Ponting was playing beautifully and was dominating the scoring with shots either side of the wicket. He looked in little trouble as he played with calm assurance in his final First Class innings.

The partnership with Ansari moved past fifty as Ponting moved into the 90’s. And on 97 he came down the wicket to Samit Patel and struck him to the long off boundary to bring up his 82nd and final First Class hundred from 183 deliveries.

Ponting and Ansari guided Surrey to lunch with the scoreboard reading 282-5 and Surrey leading by 70. After the break they continued to play solidly as Nottinghamshire bowled well and asked both batsmen searching questions.

Ponting illustrated the technique that has brought him over 24,000 First Class runs and Ansari was resolute as the partnership approached a hundred. But on 27 Ansari looked to leave a delivery from Patel and the ball brushed his glove and substitute fielder Alex Hales took a good catch at slip.

And Surrey were 316-7 when Patel trapped Gareth Batty LBW without scoring with the lead standing at 104. Ponting continued to bat in masterly fashion and he was given valuable support from Chris Tremlett but on 8 Tremlett was LBW to a delivery from Patel that kept low and Surrey found themselves 336-8.

Jade Dernbach joined Ponting and played sensibly and Ponting finished the session with a flourish hitting Graeme White twice to the long off boundary as Surrey went to tea with a lead of 144 and Ponting unbeaten on 142.

After tea Ponting moved seamlessly to 150 and Dernbach continued to play very sensibly at the other end. Together they guided Surrey through to 395 for 8 when the declaration came with Ponting unbeaten on 169 and Denbach 18*.

A magnificent innings from Ponting who brought the curtain down on his First class career under blue skies as he left the field of play to a standing ovation and with the small matter of 24,150 runs to his name.